Carla Marinucci: Campaign coming back to California

The California state GOP convention early next month could actually get interesting, folks. There’s a buzz among GOPers that Fred Thompson, the former Tennessee senator who expects to officially enter the presidential race soon, has put out word he may make a Saturday visit to the convention, scheduled Sept. 7-9 in Indian Wells.

Thompson’s camp has been in contact with top party officials and is trying to block out time for the visit; no word about whether he’ll deliver remarks, or just meet-and-greet the hundreds of GOP faithful on hand that weekend.

Currently, Arizona Sen. John McCain is scheduled to give the keynote on Saturday afternoon — and Thompson’s presence would ramp up the presidential game at the gathering, where Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to deliver a Friday address.

The campaign of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is making its pitch in San Francisco next week to potential supporters. The e-mail has gone out advertising the 7 p.m. volunteer training meeting which includes a “briefing from the national campaign” on Wednesday at the Italian American Athletic Club — mille grazie — on Stockton Street.

On the Democratic side, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is expected to hit San Francisco on Sept. 7 — a day before that star-studded sold out $2,300-a-head fundraiser at Oprah Winfrey’s home in Montecito, near Santa Barbara. The SF “Women for Obama” event is expected to draw hundreds, we’re told, with the tentative location at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.